Beijing slams Western nations for ‘smears and attacks’ against Hong Kong’s domestic national security law

Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have slammed Western nations, especially Britain, for their vocal opposition to the newly passed domestic national security law and the central government warned critics that attempts to undermine the legislation were “doomed to fail”.

The war of words erupted just hours after the “patriots-only” Hong Kong legislature unanimously passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, mandated under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, but which had been shelved for more than two decades after massive public opposition.